feature request: make unresolved references visible and editable in the layout view

[stefanottili]

The attached overview.oas doesn't contain any geometry or text, just cells and references (placements).
All leaf cells are unresolved references.

klayout reads/writes this without any issues.
But it doesn't display anything, the layout view is empty.
And since nothing can be selected in the layout view, none of the references can be edited.

I would argue that unresolved references should be displayed as a white cross at their origin and
be included in the bbox calculation and one should be able to select and query them.
The cells with an area should be displayed as "white rectangle" at their respective level of hierarchy.

The file has only been gzipped to be able to attach it to the ticket.
It's a strict file with cblock's and s_cell_offset properties.
Please gunzip. Oasis files shouldn't be gzipped.

overview.oas.gz

[klayoutmatthias]

For the description of the solution see the PR.

[klayoutmatthias]

I should add that for the example, the instances do not show up initially as that example lacks layers. If no layers are specified at all, KLayout's view is always empty as the layers say where to draw things from. No layers, nothing drawn.

As soon as you add a layer, load a .lyp file or use a technology with layer properties, you will see the instances as points at their cell's origin.

The stacked cells are a bit hard to read. You can select them all using a selection box and use "Q" to show their identity.

Matthias

[stefanottili]

for the example, the instances do not show up initially as that example lacks layers. If no layers are specified at all, KLayout's view is always empty as the layers say where to draw things from. No layers, nothing drawn.

I would argue that this "violates the principle of least surprise" ...

I've sent a non public testcase via email, I hope my gmx.net mail doesn't end up in your spam folder.
Please let me know if you don't get that.